*I wrote this post as part of my participation in a blog tour on behalf of Frito-Lay and Skylanders® and received compensation to thank me for taking the time to participate. However, all opinions expressed are my own.     As the summer comes to a close in a few weeks here in New York City, I am reminded of all the fun activities that I have engaged in with my husband and sons during this time.  We have fully taken advantage of the sunny and mild weather that we have had this season to spend quality time as a family and to enjoy being together outdoors.     One of our favorite activities has been going on a family picnic at a local park and nature preserve.  It almost felt like everything was perfect that day, from the weather to the smiles that all of us had on our faces.  Up until six months ago, my husband was working nights until he got laid off.  Although getting laid off imposed some financial hardships on our family, we have adjusted and grown to relish in this newfound … [Read more...]